Tobacco pipe



F. A. BALLIN Feb. 11,1-

TOBACCO PIPE Filed Sept. 2, 1958 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to smoking pipes and more particularly to the improved type of smoking pipe disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 191,495, filed February 19, 1938,

5 of which this application is a continuation in part.

The major object of this invention is to provide certain improvements and refinements in smoking pipes which are particularly applicable 10 to the type of pipe shown in my said co-pending application. These improvements consist generally in the provision of means for promoting condensation of the products of combustion, means for absorbing and retaining the condensate after 1.5 it is trapped, and means for filtering the smoke and absorbing more of the products of combustion before passing the smoke through the mouthpiece.

It is also an object of my invention to provide 20 the above-mentioned improvements in a simple and economical manner, and so that they can be installed in practically any pipe now on the market.

These and other objects and advantages of my 25 invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one form of pipe with the improvements of my invention installed therein,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of said pipe taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of said pipe taken 35 on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of another form of pipe showing my invention installed therein,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of said pipe taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig, 6 is a horizontal section of said pipe taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a portion of the mouthpiece of said pipe showing my improved L5 smoke filter.

Referring now to Fig. 1, wherein is illustrated a pipe built in accordance with the invention disclosed in my said co-pending application, the numeral ll! indicates a pipe bowl having a stem ll provided with a tubular cavity l2 into which the reduced end 13 of a mouthpiece M is inserted, the mouthpiece [4 having a duct l5 extending longitudinally therethrough and connecting to the tubular cavity [2 of the stem II. A vertical hole internally threaded in its lower end as at I6 is provided in the bottom of the pipe bowl II], it being noted that the hole extends up to the inside of the bowl and covers substantially the entire base thereof.

A plug, comprising a button ll, a shoulder l8 6 which is externally threaded, a cap I9, and a spindle 2!] connecting the shoulder l8 with the button I1, is inserted in said hole in the lower portion of the pipe bowl Ill. The plug is so proportioned with respect to the pipe and said ver- 10 tical hole therein that when the shoulder I8 is screwed into the bottom'of said hole, the upper face of the button ll is substantially fiush with the upper edge of the said hole and forms a grate at the bottom of the bowl Ill with a relatively small clearance around the grate as indicated by the numeral 2! in Fig, 2. By this construction,

a condensation chamber 23 is provided between the button H and the shoulder l8, which connects with the tube 12, so that the pipe may function in the ordinary manner.

I prefer to form the plug with a vertical duct 22 extending vertically through the button ll, spindle 2!], shoulder I8, and cap 9. The duct 22 is relatively small and permits a small flow of air 25 up through the duct into the bowl which air cools the spindle 2B. As set forth in my said co-pending application, the chamber 23 traps the moisture formed by the combustion of the tobacco, and I have found that by air cooling the spindle, additional condensation of the nicotine-laden moisture is promoted.

To absorb the moisture trapped in the chamber 23, I provide absorbent means preferably in the form of a removable collar which is placed around the spindle 2E5. Inasmuch as it is advisable to change this collar periodically as it becomes laden with nicotine and other substances, I prefer to have the absorbent material of the collar carried on a central resilient core, such as a piece or pieces of fine wire, and I have found that a small piece of conventional pipe cleaner is admirably suited for forming this collar 24. In most cases, it is advisable to form the collar as a U or horseshoe, and merely slip it around the spindle as illustrated in the drawing.

It will be found that by employing wire-woven absorbents, such as the conventional pipe cleaner,

I am enabled to provide a simple and eificient collar which can be readily made by any pipe user, and installed and renewed by him with little or no effort.

As a means for absorbing the remaining moisture from the smoke after it has passed through the condensation chamber 23, and also of absorbwhich cooling air is provided for promoting coning any saliva which might have passed down the draft passage 15 into the tubular cavity l2 of the pipe stem, I provide a wire-woven absorbent preferably formed in the shape of a helix 25, as seen best in Fig. '7. The diameter of the helix should preferably be such that it will readily fit in the tubular cavity 12 of the stern H and the length should be such that it substantially fills said tubular cavity. One end of the helix is straightened out and inserted in a small hole 26 provided in the reduced portion I3 of the mouthpiece l4 outside of the drafthole, so that the filter 25 will be carried by the mouthpiece and can thereby be inserted or removed from the stem I I very easily. The filter itself can be easily removed from the hole 26 and replaced with a new one when it has become substantially saturated with moisture as above indicated.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated my invention in connection With a modified form of pipe which, as set forth in my said co-pending application, is my preferred form of pipe. The numeral I0 again indicates the pipe bowl, the numeral II the stem provided with a tubular cavity [2, and M a mouthpiece having a shoulder l3 of reduced diameter on its inner end, and a draft passage 15 therethrough. In this preferred form of pipe, I provide a liner 28 in the vertical hole in the bottom of the bowl H), which liner is preferably internally threaded to receive the threaded shoulder 18 of the plug. As before, the plug comprises in addition to the shoulder IS, a cap 9, a spindle 20, and a button l1, there being a vertical duct through the button, spindle, shoulder, and cap indicated by the numeral 22. The absorbent collar disposed around the spindle 20 in the condensation chamber 23 is again indicated by the numeral 24, it being noted that the liner 28 is provided with a port 29 adapted to register with the reduced draft hole in chamber l2. The helical filter 25 is again mounted in a hole 26 in the forward end of the shoulder l3 of stem l4, and is adapted to substantially fill the chamber l2 in the pipe stem II. As will be evident from an inspection of the drawing, the elements of my invention are unchanged when installed in this form of pipe, the function of the various elements likewise being the same.

It will be seen that by the foregoing construction, I have provided a tobacco-smoking pipe in densation of the products of combustion in the condensation chamber, and means are provided for absorbing the condensate and filtering the smoke passing through the pipe. By this combination of features, the nicotine-ladened moisture is trapped in an air-cooled condensation chamber and absorbed by a readily renewable collar wrapped around the hollow spindle which supports the grate. The smoke is then further purified by providing a screw-shaped filter in the pipe stem which is also easily removable and. renewable.

While the form of my invention herein illustrated and described is now deemed by me to be the preferred manner of providing the advantages and attaining the objects hereinbefore set forth, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the broad. principles of my invention which is meant to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described for smoking pipes which includes: a tubular liner adapted to be inserted in a vertical hole through the bottom of a pipe bowl and provided with a port adapted to register with the draft hole in the stem of the pipe; a plug removably held in said liner comprising an upper burner plate and a lower sealing member connected together by a spindle of reduced diameter whereby a chamber is formed within said liner; and a filter absorbent surrounding said spindle and spaced from the burner plate and sealing member in substantial alignment with said port, whereby smoke passing between the burner plate and liner wall will have unobstructed movement in part to and through said port, and. wherein moisture may settle on the top surface of said sealing member in spaced relation to said filter absorbent.

2. A device of the character described for smoking pipes which includes: a tubular liner adapted to be inserted in a vertical hole through the bottom of a pipe bowl and provided with a port adapted to register with the draft hole in the stem of the pipe; a plug removably held in said liner comprising an upper burner plate and a lower sealing member connected together by a spindle .of reduced diameter whereby a chamber is formed within said liner, said spindle having a centrally located passage extending throughout its length providing its reduced portion with a relatively thin wall whereby cool air drawn through said passage will cool said thin wall and thereby promote condensation of hot gases within said chamber which contact the exterior surface of said wall.

3. A smoking pipe which includes: a bowl with a substantially centrally located hole through its base; a stem extending from said bow] and having a draft passage therethrough; a liner in said hole extending above and below the mouth of said draft passage and having a port in register therewith; a plug removably held in said liner comprising an upper burner plate which forms the bottom of said pipe bowl, a lower sealing member and a spindle of reduced diameter connecting said burner plate and sealing member to form a chamber within said liner; and a filter absorbent surrounding said spindle and spaced from the burner plate and sealing member in substantial alignment with said port, whereby smoke passing between the burner plate and liner wall will have unobstructed movement in part to and through said port, and wherein moisture may settle on the top surface of said sealing member in spaced relation to said filter absorbent.

4. A smoking pipe which includes: a bowl with a substantially centrally located hole through its base; a stem extending from said bowl and having a draft passage therethrough; a liner in said hole extending above and below the mouth of said draft passage and having a port in register therewith; a plug removably held in said liner comprising an upper burner plate which forms the bottom of said pipe bowl, a lower sealing member and a spindle of reduced diameter connecting said burner plate and sealing member to form a chamber within said liner; said spindle having a centrally located passage extending throughout its length providing its reduced portion with a relatively thin wall whereby cool air drawn through said passage will cool said thin wall and thereby promote condensation of hot gases within said chamber which contact the exterior surface of said wall.

5. In a pipe having a stem and a bowl with an opening in the base thereof the combination of a liner in said bowl opening provided with a port in register with the mouth of the draft passage in said stem, a plug in said liner comprising an upper burner plate, a lower sealing member and a spindle of reduced diameter conmeeting them together to form a condensation chamber in said liner; and a filter absorbent surrounding said spindle and spaced from the burn-er plate and sealing member in substantial alignment with said port, whereby smoke passing between the burner plate and liner wall will have unobstructed movement in part to and through said port, and wherein moisture may settle on the top surface of said sealing member in spaced relation to said filter absorbent.

6. In a pipe having a stem and a bowl with an opening in the base thereof the combination of a liner in said bowl opening provided with a port in register with the mouth of the draft passage in said stem, a plug in said liner comprising an upper burner plate, a lower sea-ling member and a spindle of reduced diameter connecting them together to form a condensation chamber in said liner, said spindle having a centrally located passage extending throughout its length providing its reduced portion with a relatively thin wall whereby cool air drawn through said passage will cool said thin wall and thereby promote condensation of hot gases within said chamber which contact the exterior surface of said wall.

FRED A. BALLIN. 

